PITTSBURGH – When Patriots receiver David Givens caught a nine-yard scoring pass from Tom Brady in the second quarter last night, it marked the fourth consecutive postseason game in which he’s caught at least one touchdown pass, dating back to the AFC Championship Game last year.

Meanwhile, Givens’ fellow receiver, Deion Branch, who caught Brady’s first touchdown pass of the game last night, had two receptions for 105 yards in the first half.

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When Patriots SS Rodney Harrison returned a Ben Roethlisberger INT 87 yards for a TD, it all but guaranteed a New England victory. The last 11 games a Patriots defense coached by defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel scored, the Patriots won . . . When Patriots K Adam Vinatieri booted a 48-yard FG in the first quarter, it marked the longest FG made by an opposing kicker at Heinz Field in the three years of its existence.

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The last time these two teams met, in a 34-20 Steelers’ win on Oct. 31, Pittsburgh led 21-3 at halftime. Last night, the Patriots led the Steelers 24-3 at the intermission . . . For those who rant about the Jets calling timeout when they have 10 men on the field, even Super Bowl champions make those mistakes. The Pats were forced to call timeout in the first half with only 10 men on defense.

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Last night featured Patriots RB Corey Dillon running against his former Bengals head coach of three years, Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau . . . Last night marked the second-coldest home game in Steelers history with a game-time temperature of 11 degrees, minus-1 with the wind chill . . . When Steelers K Jeff Reed was successful on FGs of 43 and 20 yards, it was his 20th and 21st consecutive successful FGs.

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A number of streaks were extended and came to an end last night. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are now 8-0 in postseason play in New England. Belichick is now 9-1 in the postseason, tying Vince Lombardi for the best postseason winning percentage. Belichick is now 13-0 when playing against a QB for the second time around after a loss in the first meeting.

Steelers head coach Bill Cowher fell to 8-9 in postseason games. Worse yet, he’s now lost four out of five AFC Championship Games at home.

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Patriots P Josh Miller returned to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, the city he played in the previous eight seasons. He joked about the free-agency process during the offseason, saying that he told his wife he was going to sign somewhere where he’d either be kicking in a dome or in warm weather after eight seasons in cold and windy Pittsburgh.

Miller, though, conceded that he was immediately smitten with Belichick when they had a recruiting dinner together.

“He had me at hello,” Miller said.

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Taking a ridiculous potshot at the Patriots’ team-first, all-for-one mantra and formula for winning championships, former New England safety Lawyer Milloy told a New England TV station last week, “Super Bowl rings don’t feed your family,” in reference to New England not being the highest-paying franchise around.

Wonder how Milloy, who was released by the Patriots just prior to last season, feels about sitting at home watching the postseason on TV for the seccnd year in a row instead of playing in it?

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When a New York reporter asked Belichick late in the week what he knows about Mike Heimerdinger, the Jets’ newly-hired offensive coordinator, the monotone Belichick deadpanned, “Does he play for the Steelers?” before adding, “I’m trying to concentrate on the Steelers.”